Malaysia's National Day - 31st August 2010

Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan Ke - 53!

Malaysia maxicard - Golden Jubilee celebration of independence (31.08.2007)

The Twin Towers Malaysia

The Twin Towers or the Petronas Towers, completed in 1998 are the tallest "twin buildings" in the world. The 88-floor towers are connected by a skybridge on 41st and 42nd floors, which is also the highest two-storey bridge in the world.

Malaysia maxicard - Visit Malaysia year 2007, the Twin Tower (19.03.2007)

The Christ Church Melaka

I didn't make a trip to Melaka to realize this Christ Church Melaka maxicard on the first day of issue; it was sent by post to Melaka later. This maxicard was returned "safely" in the self-addressed envelope provided, with "bonus" - 2 overlapping postmarks!

Malaysia maxicard - Visit Malaysia year 2007, Christ Church Melaka

The Christ Church Melaka was again depicted in the background of one of the stamps of "World Heritage sites" issue in 2009. I didn't want my maxicards to suffer the same fate this time, so I made a trip to Melaka for "slightly better" postmarks with my unstable hand.....

Malaysia maxicard - World Heritage sites, Melaka ( 09.04.09 )

Freedom of religions

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country where Islam is the official religion. However, other religions are being practiced freely without any restriction. The stamp below depicts various places of worship for different religions and the subject for this maxicard is the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia maxicard - Visit Malaysia year 2007, Hindu temple (19.03.2007)

Thean Hou Temple (天后宫)

Thean Hou Temple Kuala Lumpur, built and run by Malaysian Hainanese community is one of the biggest Chinese temples in Malaysia.

Malaysia maxicard - Visit Malaysia year 2007, Chinese temple (19.03.2007)

The National Mosque - Masjid Negara

The Masjid Negara, the national mosque located in Kuala Lumpur was built in 1965. After renovation in 1987, the original concrete roof is now clad in blue and green tiles as shown in the stamp.

Malaysia maxicard - Visit Malaysia year 2007, Mosque (19.03.2007)

Know 10 trees

Through this "Know 10 trees" issue, learn to identify and recognise some of the common trees along our roadside. 

Singapore maxicard - Know 10 trees, Mahogany ( 26.05.2010)

Great Australian Railway Journeys

Australia maxicards - Great Australian Railway Journeys (07.05.2010)

Amaryllis - Chinese painting

A beautiful piece of painting of amaryllis by Chinese artist ( 米景扬), printed on postcard.

Malaysia maxicard - Garden flowers, Amaryllis ( 01.07.2010)

Metamorphosis - the Glorious Begum

Do not fear of changes in life; at the end of metamorphosis, it's always a beautiful new beginning ....

Malaysia maxicard - Butterflies of Malaysia, the Glorious Begum (24.04.2008)

Butterfly - The Malayan Lacewing

Inside the "cocoon", dreaming of emerging as a beautiful butterfly one day ......

Malaysia maxicards - Butterflies of Malaysia, the Malayan lacewing (24.04.2008)

Butterfly - The Common Birdwing

Hoping to do some butterfly maxicards, I made a trip to the Butterfly Farm, Pulau Pinang to get some butterfly postcards, but was disappointed to find only beetle postcards( single design) on the rack. Though I had some butterfly postcards purchased earlier from the Butterfly Park KL, they were not quite attractive. Did I have a choice? Yes, of course - to do or not to do.......

Singapore maxicard - Nature series, butterflies, 

the Common Birdwing (21.04.2010)

Home Sweet Home

Home is like a spot on a circular path; no matter how you have chosen to leave this place, you will somehow return to it one day.....

Malaysia maxicard - Garden flowers, Hydrangea macrophylla (01.07.2010)

"Daisy..Daisy....." - A cute Daisy

"Daisy, Daisy...., ......,  I'm half crazy.........."

"I know...I know..., can't you see I am waiting here for your bicycle built for two..."

Australia maxicard - Adopted and adored, Daisy (29-06-2010)

The sacred lotus flower

The sacred lotus flower is venerated for its beauty. It has been a divine symbol in many Asian cultures and most of the Asian dieties are depicted to be seated on lotus flowers.

Malaysia maxicard - Garden flowers, Lotus ( 01.07.2010)

"Don't judge by the colours" - the morning glory

Different colours? Why not, if you like it......

Malaysia maxicard - Garden flowers, morning glory ( 01.07.2010)

What are "variant" maxicards?

Compare the two maxicards here and you would notice these few points:

 i) bearing the same stamp

ii) different postcards, but with the same subject

iii) postmarks are different

When these conditions are true, they are known as "variant" maxicards.

(I accidentally cropped off the bottom white margin for this postcard during scanning! :)...)

"When the stamp is the same on different postcards with the same subject and different postmark we call them 'variant' maximum cards" FIP

The Otters - Getting to know you

It was when realizing this maxicard that I got a chance to learn more about otters, the semi-aquatic fish-eating mammals. Frankly, before this, I couldn't tell at first glance, the difference between otters, beavers, weasels and badgers. 

Malaysia maxicard - Threatened habitats, the otter (15.07.2010)

Tugu Negara - It's a 2006 stamp

The Tugu Negara stamp that I used recently with the Tugu Negara postmark for realizing the "3 in 1" version of the Tugu Negara maxicard (in my earlier post), was actually issued on 04.12.2006. Take a look at these maxicards (some other views of Tugu Negara) which I realized on the first day of issue.

Malaysia Maxicards - 25th General Assembly of the World Veterans Federation (04.12.2006)

Tugu Negara - The "3 in 1" version

I thought I’ve used up  all my "Tugu Negara" stamps for my snail mails. Fortunately, there were some "fish slipped out of the net" ( 漏网之鱼) or I would have missed this golden opportunity to realize this beautiful "3 in 1" version of our splendid National Monument - Tugu negara.

The base of the monument bears the old coat of arms of Malaysia and inscriptions: 

(in English with Roman script and in Malay with Jawa script)

"Delicated to the heroic fighters in the cause of peace and freedom,

May the blessing of Allah be upon them"

Malaysia maxicards - Tugu Negara FDI postmark (31.07.2010)

Tugu Negara - The National Monument

Tugu Negara, the National Monument of Malaysia, located in Kuala Lumpur, commemorates those who fought and died, in World War II against Japanese invasion and in Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), for the peace and freedom of the country.

Malaysia maxicard - Grand Knight of Valour, armed forces (31.07.2010)

"爱莲说" － Love for Lotus

"莲 ，出淤泥而不染。"

( Lotus - grows in the mud, yet emerges from it so pure.... so blemishless.)

Malaysia maxicard - Garden flowers, lotus ( 01.07.2010)

Hello, I am Jessie

Just like many of the lost and abondoned dogs in Australia, I have been admitted to a Dogs' Home and spent some good time there with my friends. I thank God for giving me a second chance to be adopted into an adoring new family now and in case you are interested to know, my name is Jessie.

Australia maxicard - Adopted and adored, Jessie (29-06-2010)

One step at a time

Life is a long journey. Be patient and do not hurry! Just take a step at a time and you will be fine.

Malaysia maxicard - Garden flowers, Bougainvillea ( 01.07.2010)

Rules are made to be broken?

   

Malaysia maxicard - Grand Knight of Valour, the general public (31.07.2010)

Postcards with multiple pictures are forbidden in maximaphily! I think it's too general to exclude all postcards of this sort for realizing maxicards and as such do not follow this rule strictly. I only apply this condition to postcards with multiple pictures of subjects which are completely unrelated (except one of course), to the postage stamp to be affixed. If the subjects shown on a multi-pictured postcard are all related, one way or another to the postage stamp, I would not hesitate to use it. Well, I have to say sorry to FIP! Yes, rules are rules, but haven't you heard, "Rules are made to be broken."?

"Postcards with multiple pictures as well as ones with holograms are forbidden."FIP

What will you defend?

Everyone has a part to play in defending his/her own country. 

"Son, what will you defend? Do you have an answer?"

Malaysia maxicard - Grand Knight of Valour, armed forces (31.07.2010)

The magic colours - Hydrangea macrophylla

Hydrangea macrophylla is widely grown in home gardens in Malaysia. It is commonly seen in various colours: blue, pink and purple, depending on the soil composition. The flowers appear blue in acidic soil, pink in alkaline soil and purple in pH-neutral soil.

Malaysia maxicard - Garden flowers, Hydrangea macrophylla (01.07.2010)

The Arch de Triumphe (Triumphal Arch, 凯旋门 )

The Arch de Triumphe (Triumphal Arch) is one of the main attractions in Paris. This Triumphal Arch was dedicated to the French Army who fought for France. Names of the generals and wars fought are on the inside and top of the arc. It is also the home for the Unknown Soldiers' grave since 1920. I don't have a maxicard of this monument, but I have a "Bougainvillea Triumphal Arch" maxicard to share with you here. Hope you like it .

Malaysia maxicard - Garden flowers, Bougainvillea ( 01.07.2010)

King's Special Cigar

"Smoking Kills!" I better include a health warning here with this vintage cigar ad card, depicting King Edward VII who enjoyed smoking cigars and cigarettes. As we can see from most of the cigar advertisements, past or present, cigar smoking undoubtedly is a symbol more associated with affluence and success than health hazards. 

Australia Maxicard - Australia Commonwealth Coinage 1910-2010, 

King Edward VII ( 23.02.2010)

A land of peace

We are fortunate to live in a land of peace. Thank God for all the blessings!

Australia maxicard - Kokoda joint issue ( 20.04.2010)

Swing the pendulum back....

While enjoying peace, be prepared for war - to swing the pendulum back to equilibrium. (The reason for more tanks here?)

Malaysia maxicard - Grand Knight of Valour, armed forces (31.07.2010)

"In the case a postage stamp has multiple, secondary or partial subjects, each subject must as far as possible, be dealt with separately." FIP

No war, please......!

There is no war without casualties. Why go to war? 

Malaysia maxicard - Grand Knight of Valour, armed forces (31.07.2010)

Out in the battlefield

"Looks like we are targeted! "

"Yes, watch out! Bullets are coming in our direction....."

Malaysia maxicard - Grand Knight of Valour, armed forces (31.07.2010)